Wisden vents anger at county game

England's domestic cricket has come under heavy fire from a famous old supporter just one week before county bosses gather at Lord's to consider another set of changes.

'Wisden Almanack', the sport's most easily recognised and influential publication, hits the bookshelves on the dawn of a new season, as it has every year since 1864. But the 139th edition contains two attacks on the structure of county cricket.

"I believe that the county system runs counter to a positive future for English cricket at the highest level," writes editor Graeme Wright. "What we have at the moment is a Victorian institution that resisted reform in the 20th century and struggled into the 21st on subsidies rather than public support. The system survives on a confederacy of mediocrity."

In another leading article, written by journalist Simon Heffer, first-class county cricket is described as "nigh unwatchable: it almost beggars belief that anyone should find it a recreation preferable to, say, sitting in his or her own garden and watching the flowers grow".

The 18 first-class counties meet at Lord's next Thursday to vote on a series of proposals that could reshape the domestic game from next year.

Increasing the number of overseas players per county from one to two is the most contentious issue. But the biggest development, from a spectator viewpoint, would be the introduction of a new 20-over-per-side evening competition to replace the Benson and Hedges Cup.

"Market research has clearly shown the need for cricket to become accessible to new and younger audiences," said David Morgan, chairman of the First Class Forum.

Wisden would not disagree with that verdict.

"For much of the population and the media, county cricket drifts along in a backwater,"claims Wright. "Without the annual injection of more than a million pounds each, most counties would be further up the creek without a paddle."

In fact, Wisden's editor wonders whether English cricket needs counties at all. It might be better served by having a professional circuit based on cities rather than shires, he suggests.

Just to complete some sorry reading for the country's cricket, not one Englishman figures among Wisden's five players of the year - for the third time since 1996.

Australians Adam Gilchrist, Jason Gillespie and Damien Martyn are honoured in the wake of a seventh successive Ashes defeat for England, together with Zimbabwe's Andy Flower and India's VVS Laxman.

Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2002. Published by John Wisden and Co, £35.